Folding file.



B. B. MGFADDEN.

FOLDING PILE. i APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,'1907.

Patented Sept. 15,1908.` a SHEETS-SEHEN.

B. B. MGPADDEN.

FOLDING, PILE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. ao, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 15, d1908'I THE Nomzls PsrzRs Ca. wAsHmcmu, n, c.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FOLDING FILE.. APPLIGATIONHLED Nov. so, 19o?.

Bi. B. MCFDDEN.

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BENJAMIN B. MCFADDEN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

FOLDING FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Application filed November 30, 1907. Serial No. 494,576.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JBENJAMIN B. McFAD- DEN, `a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Folding File, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a file for letters, bills, and the like, which is dust and light proof, so that it will properly preserve its contents, to make the file completely collapsible or foldable so that it will occupy comparatively little space for storage and transportation, and to'so construct such file that when it is set up, it is strong and durable, and will not accidentally collapse.

Two forms of construction are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the file when set up, showing the cover open. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view through one of the corners on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view from' front to rear. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view from side to side. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the file when unfolded. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing a slightly different form of cover fastener. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the iile when unfolded. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through said file whensetup. Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views therethrough at right angles to each other.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-7 inclusive, a bottom 8 is employed that is angular in form, and has folding inner side walls 9, 10, 11 and 12 connected to its different edges. To one of these inner side walls, as for instance 11, is connected a top 12a, which is provided with o positely tapered side flaps 13 and a front ap 14, the latter being preferably doubled as illustrated atv15. The two opposite inner side walls 9 and 10 are free, asvshown, and in the present embodiment, the fourth inner side wall 12 is provided at its ends with folding flaps 16, to which are irremovably fastened the ends of outer walls 17. These outer walls, having their outer ends connected by another outer wall 18, thus form in effect an angular frame,

which however, is foldable.

The joints between the flaps 16 and the wall 12 are reinforced by strips of fabric 21 secured thereto, and the joints between the walls 17 and 18 are likewise reinforced by strips of fabric 20. Moreover the walls 17 have secured to their inner faces reinforcing strips 22. The inner side walls 11 and 12 have secured to their inner faces reinforcing strips 23, and it will be observed, particularly by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 6 that the strips 23 terminate short of the ends of the walls 11 and 12.

The Jle when unfolded is shown in Fig. 6, the angular outerframes 17 -18 being shown, however, partially set up, although it will be evident that it may be folded fiat so that the le will occupy but little space when in collapsed condition.

To set up the file, the side naps 13 of the top 12a are folded flat upon the inner side of said top 12a, and the top is passed through the outer frame 17 -18. The inner side walls 9 and 10 are laid iiat upon the bottom 8 and are also passed into said frame, after which they are swung upwardly. This therefore brings the side walls 9 and 10 within the outer frame, and also the wall 11. Moreover, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the ends of the inner side walls 9 and 10 abut against the inner faces of the side walls 11 and 12. Consequently the side wall 11 which carries the top cannot collapse inwardly, because of the side walls 9 and 10, and cannot collapse outwardly, because of the rear outer wall 18.

.At the same time, the reinforcing strips 23 of the inner side walls 11 and 12 have their ends abutted against the inner faces of the inner.

side walls 9 and 10. Consequently these walls cannot collapse inwardly because of said reinforcing strips and cannot collapse outwardly because of the outer walls 17. The result is that the file is very rigid, the top 12a as shown in Fig. 1, closes the open upper side of the Jrile, and the side flaps 13 thereof will pass downwardly between the outer walls 17 and the inner walls 9 and 10,

' while the front flap 14 will engage over the front wall 12. Any suitable means may be provided, however, for fastening the cover in closed position. Thus in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, a bendable metallic tongue 24 is employed that passes downwardly through a keeper or staple 25 secured to the front wall,

and is bendable about said keeper. This also may be made a spring tongue, so that it will frictionally maintain its position in the keeper or staple. Instead of the fastener above described, that shown in Fig. 7 may be employed. In this embodiment, a kee er loop 26 is secured to the front wall and) a spring latch 27 carried by the flap 15, slidably and detachably engages therein, being so constructed that by pressing the latch inwardly, it may be readily disengaged from the keeper. Suitably indexed filing leaves 28 are placed within the file, and may be arranged in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be a vparent to those skilled in the art, without fiirther description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the, advantages of the invention. For instance while the outer walls 17-18 are shown as connected to the front wall 12, they can be as readily connected to one of the other inner side walls without in any manner changing the combination of parts by means of which this advantageous form of file is obtained. For instance, the box may be made of heavy material so that it will not need reinforcing at all. A structure embodying these modifications is illustrated in Figs 8-11 inclusive. Y

The bottom is designated 8a, and has folding inner side walls 9a, 10a, 11a and 12a. To the rear inner side wall 1 1 a is connected a top 12b, which is provided with oppositely tapered side flaps 13a, and a front flap 14a. The wall 11L is provided at its ends with folding fia s 16il to which are irremovably fastened t e ends of outer walls 17a connected at their outer ends by another outer wall 18a, forming in effect an angular frame. It will be observed that in this form, as shown, no reinforcing strips are employed. In use, the inner walls 9a, 10a, and 12EL are located within the outer angular frame, and the side fiaps 13a fit between the opposite inner and outer walls. In this structure the outer wall 18a is provided with a suitable kee er 25a in which is engaged a tongue 24a. ndeX filing leaves 28a are located in the file when set up. @Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A folding file, comprising a bottom,

separate foldable angularly disposed inner side walls connected at their lower edges to the different edges of the bottom, a top connected to the upper edge of one of the side walls, angularly disposed folding outer walls irremovably connected at their ends to each other and to the ends of one of the side walls, said outer Walls being long enough to surround and inclose the remaining inner side walls and maintain them in set up condition within the outer walls, and depending flaps carried by certain of the free edges of the top and slidably and detachably fitting between the outer walls and the adjacent inner walls.

2. A folding -Ele, comprising abottom, separate foldable angularly disposed inner side walls connected at their lower edges to the different edges of the bottom, a top connected to the upper edge of one of the side walls, angularly disposed folding outer walls irremovably connected at their ends to each other and to the ends of one of the side walls, said outer walls being long enough to surround and inclose the remaining inner side walls and maintain them in set up condition within the outer walls, and depending flaps carried by certain of the free edges of the top and slidably and detachably fitting between the outer walls and the ad'acent inner walls, certain of the inner walls aving their inner ends detachably interfitted with the adjacent angularly disposed inner side walls to maintain the latter against collapsing inwardly and being thus also held against collapsing by such interfitted engagement.

3. A folding file comprising a bottom, separate foldable angularly disposed inner side walls connected at their lower edges to the different edges of the bottom, angularly disposed folding outer walls connected at their ends to each other and surrounding and inclosing the inner side walls to revent their outward collapsing, certain of t 1e inner side walls having their ends abutted against the inner sides of the others, thereby preventing said others collapsing inwardly, and reinforcing strips secured to the inner faces of said other inner side walls and having their ends abutted against the inner faces of the first mentioned side walls to prevent said first mentioned side walls from collapsing inwardly.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJ. B. MCFADDE'N.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. WoosTER, WILLIAM L. Lnwrs. 

